Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 159

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 159

Cesar swallowed dryly.

Then, as if he had made some decision, he returned the ring to the butler and said.

“Since they are honored guests, prepare the innermost chamber for them. You must attend to them without any mistakes.”

“Ah, yes, yes…”

Cesar took a light breath, then stepped slightly aside and bowed without even making eye contact with Belinda.

“Then please rest comfortably.”

That was the end of it.

After leaving those words, he strode away without looking back.

Silence flowed between the three people who remained.

The first to come to her senses was Belinda.

She watched Cesar’s retreating figure heading toward the castle entrance without even brushing the snow off her cloak, then opened her mouth with a bewildered expression.

“What, did he just run away?”

At such an outrageous remark, the elderly butler’s weak heart sank with a thud.

To say such a thing about his master, who would never show his back even when facing dozens of demon beasts…!

However, since Cesar’s retreating figure did indeed look unusually hurried, the butler could only purse his lips in displeasure.

He had just been told to attend to them without mistakes, so he couldn’t openly show his annoyance.

But at Belinda’s next words, the butler’s mouth finally fell wide open.

“Former Duke.”

“My, my lady…!”

Whether the butler’s face turned red or not, Belinda snatched the ring from the butler’s hand and stared at Penandel, who had missed his chance to escape.

Penandel answered while breaking out in cold sweat at Belinda’s fierce expression.

“Yes, yes? Are, are you perhaps calling me?”

“Is there anyone else here besides the former Duke who is acquainted with me?”

“Yes, yes… That’s correct…”

She found out long ago. Yes, I thought something seemed strange.

Penandel, who had suddenly become Cesar’s accomplice, stood stiffly like an overly tense new recruit and listened intently to Belinda’s words.

“It would be fine if I chased after and brought back the current Duke, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, of course. And please feel free to call me Lord Penandel.”

At those words, Belinda’s expression became even sharper.

She stared at Penandel for a long while with a gaze that made his spine tingle, then whispered quietly.

“Cerberus.”

Though it was a small voice, as if they had heard her call, three Dobermans came bounding down from the upper floor where the drawing room was located.

“Oh my goodness!”

The Dobermans passed by the butler who quickly dodged out of the way and began chasing after Cesar who had disappeared beyond the entrance.

And then…

“Catch him.”

As soon as Belinda’s words ended, the demon beast that had transformed into a massive three-headed dog wreathed in flames disappeared beyond the castle’s entrance.

Penandel unconsciously raised his voice toward Belinda’s back as she leisurely headed outside.

“My, my lady! Good luck!”

As soon as Belinda crossed the entrance, fierce snowfall whipped through her hair.

On the white snow field, footprints that appeared to belong to Cerberus were clearly stamped, extending far into the distance.

Belinda stood blankly for a while, watching those footprints.

‘I didn’t expect him to run away.’

Though she didn’t show it, Belinda felt both anger and disappointment at his cold demeanor of not even making proper eye contact.

How long had she waited for her hunting dog to bring back its prey?

As snowflakes began to accumulate on her head, warm comfort settled on her shoulders.

“I didn’t know that telling you to wait meant you would come find me.”

Belinda sighed and answered.

“I thought as much.”

Her resentment toward Cesar had been building up like falling snow, one flake at a time, but it all melted away with just one touch of the hand that draped a coat over her shoulders as always.

She asked in a somewhat dejected voice.

“Lord Cheri, did I come here for nothing?”

Perhaps she had been too comfortable with him. He was no longer her guard knight, but a lord who ruled the vast North.

However, there was no displeasure or hesitation in the answer that came.

“That’s not the case.”

Taking that as permission, Belinda slowly turned her head.

In that familiar place, Cesar was standing. Only with his head slightly lowered, unable to meet Belinda’s eyes.

Everything was the same as it had been a year ago. Except for one thing.

Belinda reached out and placed her hand on Cesar’s cheek.

Her thumb carefully traced over Cesar’s eyelid.

“Your eyes are…”

Like drops of blood fallen on white snow, his pupils were stained red.

“The first sign of demon beast transformation is the pupils turning red.”

It was the moment Giuseppe’s voice faintly brushed past her ears.

Woof! Bark! Howl!

With a resounding noise, a shadow fell over their heads.

Looking up, Belinda spotted Cerberus diving toward them and turned pale.

“Wait, sto…!”

Crash!

The accumulated snow rose up like a dust cloud.

Fortunately, Cesar quickly wrapped his arm around Belinda’s waist and pulled back, so they avoided being crushed under Cerberus, but both of them ended up covered in snow.

Unaware of this, Cerberus, thinking he had caught his prey, proudly raised his head while patting Cesar’s cloak with his front paws.

“Yes, yes. Well done, Cerberus.”

Belinda sighed and looked back at Cesar.

“We’re both a mess. You can at least offer us a warm cup of tea, can’t you?”

“I would be delighted to serve you.”

Cesar smiled as if resigned and escorted Belinda into the castle.

* * *

The fireplace in Baluashten Castle was exceptionally large. Thanks to that, it was the Cerberus who were excited.

Watching the Cerberus rubbing themselves freely against the blazing fireplace, I unconsciously asked.

“What happened to your eyes?”

Lord Cheri answered in a plain tone.

“There’s a demon beast I’m pursuing. Since I’m hunting it, the curse has manifested outwardly.”

Unsatisfied with that answer, I stared at him intently. Lord Cheri hesitated with the expression of someone wondering how much he should explain, then finally added more explanation.

“Normally the curse doesn’t manifest outwardly when hunting demon beasts… but right now I’m pursuing a rather special demon beast, so I’m having difficulty controlling my abilities. I was planning to return to the Royal Capital once everything is resolved.”

“Then you should have explained it that way. Since there was no explanation, I…”

I thought something had happened.

When my expression darkened, Lord Cheri hurriedly spoke in an apologetic tone.

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to tell you about my condition…”

Uncharacteristically trailing off his words, he lightly brushed his eyes and avoided my gaze.

It seemed like he was hiding something.

I didn’t know for sure, but if his pupils were going to turn red from killing just one or two demon beasts, wouldn’t they have changed long ago?

Moreover, why were demon beasts that rarely escaped beyond the barrier attacking residential areas?

I had many questions, but I held back my words, worried that I might end up pressuring Cheri who already looked dejected.

Just then, Penandel, who had been playing with Leo by the fireplace, subtly joined our conversation.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation, but…”

Penandel gestured with his eyes toward Leo, who was carefully removing a block from the wooden block tower.

“Who is this young master?”

Penandel’s eyes darted back and forth between Leo and Cheri earnestly, as if gauging something.

I answered nonchalantly.

“He’s my child.”

“…!”

“As expected, with His Excellency…!”

“Cough.”

At Penandel’s words, Cesar, who had been drinking tea, started coughing.

I looked at Cesar with a pitying expression and shook my head.

“Penandel, you’re still unmarried, right?”

“Yes, yes? Well, that’s true… but how do you know that…?”

“To have a child, you need to carry them in your belly for ten months. And our Leo is eleven years old. If you think about it logically, the math doesn’t add up, does it?”

“I may be unmarried, but I do know that much common sense! But you two look so much alike!”

What on earth is he talking about? Leo and Cheri look alike?

I narrowed my eyes and looked back and forth between the two.

Well, sure. I had thought their eye color was similar before. But…

“How could an angel and a human look alike?”

“Pardon…?”

“There could never be a creation as perfect as our Leo. So there could never be anyone who resembles Leo either. Besides, if Cheri’s black hair is as dark as the deep sea, our Leo’s is a sparkling color like the night sky. Their noses are so different too. Cheri’s has a high bridge and is handsomely masculine, while Leo’s is adorable like an angel sculpture. Look at their lips too. Cheri’s are…”

Crash.

Just then, the sound of the block tower collapsing was heard.

When I turned my head, Leo’s face was flushed as red as it could possibly get.

With a face that looked like it would burst with a pop if poked, Leo covered his face with both hands.

Though not as much as Leo, Cheri’s facial condition was no less dramatic. With the most disheveled expression I’d ever seen from him, he pressed his lips tightly together before quietly turning his head away.

Seeing this, Penandel quickly covered his mouth and bowed his head.

“I apologize. It’s all my fault. But ‘Cheri,’ pfft, what an, ahem, endearing name.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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